Mitral valve-in-valve and valve-in-ring for failing surgical bioprosthetic valves and rings.

The transcatheter valve-in-valve (VIV) procedure for failed aortic bioprostheses is recognized as an alternative treatment to conventional surgery in high-risk patients. This less invasive option has now been applied to failed mitral bioprostheses (VIV) or failed repairs i.e.

Transaortic transcatheter aortic valve implantation using the Lotus valve: first-in-man experience.

Aims: To demonstrate the feasibility of implanting the Lotus second-generation transcatheter heart valve (THV) (designed for a transfemoral procedure) via a transaortic approach.

Methods And Results: We describe a case with severe aortic stenosis in the presence of small calibre and calcified femoral access and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The transaortic approach was the ideal approach for this patient and we successfully implanted a 25 mm Lotus valve without any complication.

Traumatic aortic injury score (TRAINS): an easy and simple score for early detection of traumatic aortic injuries in major trauma patients with associated blunt chest trauma.

Purpose: To develop a risk score based on physical examination and chest X-ray findings to rapidly identify major trauma patients at risk of acute traumatic aortic injury (ATAI).

Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted with 640 major trauma patients with associated blunt chest trauma classified into ATAI (aortic injury) and NATAI (no aortic injury) groups. The score data set included 76 consecutive ATAI and 304 NATAI patients from a single center, whereas the validation data set included 52 consecutive ATAI and 208 NATAI patients from three independent institutions.

Aortoesophageal fistula after thoracic stent grafting.

Aortoesophageal fistula after thoracic stent grafting is rare and usually fatal. A 66-year-old woman developed an aortoesophageal fistula 1 month after endovascular stent grafting of the thoracic aorta for a complicated type B dissection. She had a fatal episode of massive bleeding before she could be treated.

Endovascular stent grafting for acute thoracic aortic pathology.

Background: Endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta has shown reduced morbidity and mortality compared with open surgery. We describe our experience with endovascular stent grafting in the treatment of acute thoracic aortic pathology.

Methods: From October 2003 to January 2008, 25 patients underwent endovascular stent graft repair of the thoracic aorta.